Fluid track sanding system



Oct. 3, 1967 v H. A. KILGORE ET AL 5 3 FLUID TRACK SANDING SYSTEM Filed March 19, 1965 GOVERNOR i2 9 AT-TORNEY,

United States Patent Ofifice 3,345,098 FLUID TRACK SANDING SYSTEM Harry A. Kilgore, Elmhurst, and Harold L. Smith, La Grange, Ill., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 441,047 9 Claims. (Cl. 291-3) This invention pertains to a system for supplying sand to the traction drive means of a vehicle to increase its traction.

It is common practice to provide railway locomotives with a sanding system in which air under relatively high pressure forces sand through delivery conduits to the point of contact between the locomotive wheels and the track. Difficulty is frequently encountered with such sanding systems because the discharge ends of the delivery conduits are disposed close to the ground and often become obstructed by mud or snow between sanding operations. In addition, such systems require an engine driven compressor which takes considerable power, reducing the economy of locomotive operation.

This invention improves in several respects a new sanding system designed to overcome these diificulties. As disclosed in a copending application Ser. No. 441,008, filed Mar. 19, 1965 by Harold L. Smith, the new sanding system provides a continuous flow of air under relatively low pressure through the sand delivery conduits. The flow of air removes material which would otherwise accumulate to obstruct the delivery conduits. When sanding is desired, sand may be release directly into the flow of air where it well be entrained and carried to the wheels. A

blast of air under high pressure is no longer necessary to.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a locomotive showing in outline form the components utilized to provide a sanding system embodying this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a portion of FIG- URE 1, partially in section and enlarged to show details of the sanding system apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG- URE -2, enlarged to show additional details of the sand trap; and

FIGURE 4 illustrates an electrical circuit for operating the system.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, a locomotive L includes an engine E which drives a generator G to supply power to traction motors M. The motors M drive wheels W to propel locomotive L along a track T. Engine E also drives an auxiliary generator AG which, in connection with a voltage regulator (not shown) maintains a constant low voltage supply. A blower B is also driven by engine E to supply a plenum chamber with air under relatively low pressure. Air flows from chamber 10 through flexible connections 11 to cool traction motors M. An air compressor C is also driven by engine E to maintain a reservoir R under relatively high pressure, for example 150 pounds per square inch, to operate the locomotive air brakes and other safety devices (not shown).

The sanding system provided by this invention for locomotive L includes a sand storage container 12 from which sand may be delivered through conduits 14 to the point 3,345,098 Patented Oct. 3, 1967 of contact between wheels W and the track T. It will be appreciated that any desired number of delivery conduits may be used. For the purpose of illustration, the drawing shows two conduits 14 which extend to a pair of transversely spaced wheels W.

A second air plenum chamber 16, located beneath storage container 12, is maintained at relatively low pressure by chamber 10 through a conduit 18. As an example of these pressures, the pressure in chamber 10 of one locomotive model presently in service varies below a maximum of fourteen inches of water or approximately 0.5 pound per square inch. This sanding system has been found to operate very satisfactorily in such a pressure range.

A discharge tube 20 extends from storage container 12 into chamber 16. A vibratory trough 22 is positioned beneath discharge tube 20 within chamber 16 and is adapted to deliver sand from tube 20 to conduits 14. Additional discharge tubes and feeding troughs may be used to deliver sand to other pairs of wheels as may be necessary. It has been found advantageous to use a single trough to supply sand to the forward wheels of the locomotive truck when traveling forward and a separate trough to supply. the rear wheels when traveling in the opposite direction.

An electro-magnetic vibrator 24 has been illustrated as the device to vibrate trough 22, although several other types of vibrators (for example, pneumatic and hydraulic pulsators and electrically driven cams) are commercially available. Vibrator 24 operates in a well-known manner: When vibrator 24 is energized it pulls trough 22 down and back; the leaf springs 28 on which the trough is mounted then push the trough up and forward and the inertia of the sand particles in the trough carries them from one end to the other as this action is repeated. By locating the trough parallel to the longitudinal center line of the locomotive and by elevating the discharge end 30 of the trough somewhat above the other end, incidental vibrations of the locomotive will notbe sufficient to carry the sand particles through the trough.

Each conduit 14 terminates within chamber 16 in a sand trap 32, illustrated in detail in FIGURE 3. Each trap 32 is open at the end 34 so that air flows through the traps and conduits 14. This air flow prevents the accumulation of foreign material in conduits 14 and in particular prevents an accumulation of snow or mud in the discharge portion of conduits 14 adjacent the wheels W. Each trap 32 has an opening 36 formed in its upper side downstream of end 34, and a hopper 38 is positioned over each opening 36. Trough 22 has a pair of discharge tubes 40 depending from its discharge end 30 which are adapted to deliver sand to hoppers 38.

Each trap 32 includes a bafile 42 depending from the upstream side of opening 36 and extending in the direction of air flow. Bailles 42 blend the sand delivered to the traps through hoppers 38 with the air flow entering the trap through the open ends 34 and thus assist entrainment of the sand in the air flow. In addition, baffles 42 restrict the flow of air through hoppers 38 to prevent aspiration of the sand from trough 22.

The operation of this system is easily understood. Whenever engine E is operating, blower B will pressurize chambers 10 and 16 and a continuous flow of air will be maintained through conduits 14 due to the atmospheric pressure at the discharge ends of the conduits. Whenever sanding is desired, vibrator 24 may be actuated to deliver sand from storage container 12 to the sand traps 32. The sand will be entrained in the air flow through traps 32 and delivered through conduits 14 to the Wheels W.

A transversely extending bafiie 44 is positioned in trough 22 and may be adjusted above the bottom of the trough to meter the flow of sand delivered through the trough. By such an adjustment, the rate of sand flow into traps 32 may be regulated so that sand is admitted no faster than it can be entrained in the air flow. This prevents an accumulation of sand in the delivery conduits 14 and allows greater control over the sanding operation. In addition, the adjustment permits regulation of the amount of sand supplied to the wheels so that no more sand is supplied than is necessary to increase traction, thus achieving some reduction in the amount of sand wasted.

It should be appreciated that this new sanding system is capable of providing a much greater amount of air for sanding since the air supply is not limited by the capacity of the high pressure reservoir R and its compressor C. It is therefore possible to use more air to deliver sand to the wheels, resulting in a high sand discharge velocity from conduits 14. The higher discharge velocity increases the probability of lodging the sand between the wheels W and the track T and thus increases the eflectiveness of the sanding system.

A rod 46 may be secured to trough 22 to extend through discharge tube 20. The vibration of rod 46 will urge sand from storage container 12 through discharge to trough 22 and is particularly advantageous when the sand in storage container 12 is damp.

At lower engine speeds the air flow provided by blower B (the speed of which is dependent upon engine speed) may be insufficient to entrain sand and carry it through conduits 14. To supplement the air flow in such a situation, this system includes a valve 48 (FIGURE 2) which allows a supplementary flow of air from reservoir R to enter traps 32. For this purpose a conduit 50, 51 extends from reservoir R and is controlled by valve 48. Conduit 51 branches into a conduit 52 for each trap 32. As shown in FIGURE 3, each conduit 52 terminates in a nozzle 54 which discharges beneath the downstream edge of bafiie 42 to supply the supplementary air at the most advantageous point within trap 32. It is thought that the supplementary flow of high pressure air creates an aspirating efiect on chamber 16 to increase the air flow through traps 32 and conduits 14.

FIGURE 4 illustrates an electrical arrangement for operating vibrator 24 and valve 48 at the appropriate time. As shown therein, a pulse generator 58 is connected across a voltage source V which may be supplied by the auxiliary generator AG. Pulse generator 58 operates continuously, and when sanding is required, the locomotive operator closes a normally open switch 60 to energize a relay 62. Relay 62 closes its normally open interlock 64 to supply the generated pulse from generator 58 to the vibrator 24. Vibrator 24 will cause sand to be delivered from storage container 12 to traps 32 -for delivery through conduits 14.

An interlock 66 is controlled by the engine governor to close at low engine speeds when the pressure in chambers 10 and 16 and the air flow through traps 32 and conduits 14 is low. Then when switch 60 is closed by the operator, a relay 68 will be energized to open valve 48 and admit a supplementary air flow from reservoir R.

The advantages of the apparatus provided by this invention are readily apparent. As well as maintaining the sand delivery conduits 14 free of obstruction and the air reservoir R at high pressure, the flow of sand is carefully controlled and efiectively blended with the air flow. In addition, it will be appreciated that several features of this invention might be advantageously combined with existing sanding systems to increase their efliciency. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the features of the sanding system provided by this invention may be adapted to other traction drive vehicles and are not limited to application on railway vehicles.

We claim:

1. A railway locomotive including wheels adapted to roll along a track and a system for supplying sand to said wheels to increase traction, said system comprising a sand trap, a delivery conduit extending from said trap, means to provide a continuous flow of air through said trap and conduit to maintain said conduit free of obstruction, and vibratory means actuable to meter and deliver sand at a predetermined rate into the air flow through said sand trap for delivery by the air flow through said sand trap and said conduit, said conduit being oriented to direct sand for delivery to the tread of at least one of said wheels.

2. A railway locomotive including wheels adapted to roll along a track and a system for supplying sand to said wheels to increase traction, said system comprising a sand trap, a delivery conduit from said trap, means to provide a continuous fiow of air through said trap and conduit to maintain said conduit free of obstruction, a sand storage container having a delivery opening, and a vibratory trough located beneath said opening and actuable to deliver sand from said container at a predetermined rate into the air flow through said sand trap for delivery by the air flow through said sand trap and said conduit, said conduit being oriented to direct sand for delivery to the tread of at least one of said wheels.

3. The locomotive of claim 2 in which said trough has a restriction which meters sand delivered from said container into said sand trap.

4. The locomotive of claim 3 in which said restriction comprises a transversely extending bafile in said trough spaced a predetermined distance above the bottom of said trough.

5. A railway locomotive including wheels adapted to roll along a track, an engine adapted to drive said wheels, and a system for supplying sand to said wheels to increase traction, said system comprising an air plenum chamber, blower means pressuring said chamber, a sand trap disposed in said chamber, a delivery conduit from said trap extending from said chamber, said trap having an open portion to permit air to flow continuously from said chamber through said conduit to maintain said conduit free of obstruction, and means actuable to deliver sand through said sand trap and said conduit, said conduit being oriented to direct sand for delivery to the tread of at least one of said wheels.

6. The locomotive of claim 4 which further includes an air reservoir and an engine driven compressor pressurizing said reservoir and wherein said system further comprises means connecting said reservoir and said trap actuable to cause a supplementary flow of air through said trap and conduit.

7. A railway locomotive including wheels adapted to roll along a track and a system for supplying sand to said wheels to increase traction, said system comprising an air plenum chamber, blower means pressuring said chamber, a sand trap disposed in said chamber, a delivery conduit from said trap extending from said chamber, said trap having a first open portion to permit air to flow continuously from said chamber through said trap and conduit to maintain said conduit free of obstruction, said trap having an additional opening in the upper side downstream of said first open portion, and means actuable to supply sand to said sand trap through said additional opening for entrainment in the air flow through said sand trap and delivery through said conduit, said conduit being oriented to direct sand for delivery to the tread of at least one of said wheels, said trap including a bafile depending therein from upstream of said opening and extending beneath said opening in the direction of flow through said trap to blend flow through said additional opening with air flow from said first open portion.

8. The locomotive of claim 7 which further includes an air reservoir and an engine driven compressor pressurizing said reservoir and wherein said system further comprises supplementary means connecting said reservoir and said trap actuable to cause an additional flow of air through said trap and conduit, said supplementary means including a nozzle in said trap arranged to discharge an additional flow of air in the direction of air flow from said first open portion, the outlet of said nozzle being located beneath the downstream edge of said baflie.

9. A railway locomotive including wheels adapted to roll along a track, an engine adapted to drive said wheels, an air reservoir, an engine driven compressor pressurizing said reservoir, and a system for supplying sand to said wheels to increase traction, said system comprising an air plenum chamber, a conduit extending from said chamber, a blower driven by said engine pressurizing said chamber and causing air flow through said conduit, means actuable to cause air flow through said conduit to deliver sand 10 through said conduit, said conduit being oriented to direct sand for delivery to the tread of at least one of said wheels, means forming a restriction in said conduit, and supplementary air flow means extending from said reservoir and discharging into said conduit at the restricted portion to increase air flow through said conduit by aspirating additional air from said chamber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Prendergast 29142 J ohndrow 291--3 Harney 291-1 White 2913 Weckerly 222-55 Hewitt 291--3 Turner 291-11 Frantz 251-62 Harms 291-5 Werbe 291-3 Frantz 2911 1 Aydelott 10559 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. B. FAUST, H. BELTRAN, Assisfant Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,345,098 October 3, 1967 Harry A. Kilgore et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, lines 32 and 50, for "pressuring", each occurrence, read pressurizing line 41, for the claim reference numeral "4" read 5 Signed and sealed this 29th day of October 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. A RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE INCLUDING WHEELS ADAPTED TO ROLL ALONG A TRACK AND A SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING SAND TO SAID WHEELS TO INCREASE TRACTION, SAID SYSTEM COMPRISING A SAND TRAP, A DELIVERY CONDUIT EXTENDING FROM SAID TRAP, MEANS TO PROVIDE A CONTINUOUS FLOW OF AIR THROUGH SAID TRAP AND CONDUIT TO MAINTAIN SAID CONDUIT FREE OF OBSTRUCTION, AND VIBRATORY MEANS ACTUABLE TO METER AND DELIVER SAND AT A 